February is often called the “month of love.” Everywhere we look, we’re surrounded by hearts, cards, and reminders to celebrate affection and warm feelings. Love is presented as something that should feel easy, affirming, and endlessly pleasant. And while those expressions can be sweet, God’s Word invites us to look beyond the surface and ask a deeper question: How does Scripture define real love?

John gently reminds us that love is more than kind words or good intentions—it is something lived out “in deed and in truth.” Loving in truth means caring enough about someone to align our love with God’s Word, even when that requires courage. There are moments when silence feels easier than honesty, and agreement feels safer than truth. Yet Scripture calls us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). This command calls for us to examine our hearts: Am I willing to lovingly speak truth when it is uncomfortable, or do I avoid it to keep the peace? True love doesn’t ignore truth—it delivers it with humility, prayer, and grace.

God’s love also invites us to consider our motives. Biblical love is never self-serving. It does not speak truth to prove a point, protect pride, or ease personal discomfort. Instead, it seeks the spiritual good of the other. This kind of love asks us to pause and reflect: Are my words and actions rooted in genuine care, or in a desire for control, validation, or recognition? Love that reflects Christ is pure—it gives without expecting anything in return.

And then there is patience. Scripture tells us that love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4), not because patience comes naturally, but because real love often requires endurance. God’s love does not withdraw when growth is slow or obedience is imperfect. It stays, hopes, and continues to invest. This challenges us to consider: Who has God placed in my life that requires patient love right now—and have I been tempted to love only when it feels easy? Loving patiently means trusting God’s timing instead of demanding immediate change.

Hallmark may celebrate love with sweetness and sentiment, but God wants for us a deeper, truer love—one shaped by Scripture, purified by right motives, and sustained by patience. This is love that reflects not the season, but the Savior.

Takeaway Thought: God’s love goes deeper than feelings—it is truthful, pure, and patient.

In His Love,

Mikki💜

Prayer: Lord, as we reflect on love this month, teach us to love as You do. Help us speak truth with grace, examine our motives honestly, and remain patient when love feels costly. Shape our hearts so that our love points others not to ourselves, but to You. In Jesus Name, Amen.